A truck driver tragically died while unloading the famous BMW M1 Art Car painted by Andy Warhol in 1979. The accident occurred Wednesday on the National Mall in Washington D.C., where the vehicle was to be displayed at the Hagerty Foundation’s pop-up car show “Cars at the Capitol.” Related events scheduled for the rest of the week have been canceled.
The Circumstances of the Accident
According to television reports, the BMW M1 was being unloaded via a rear ramp from an enclosed transport truck belonging to the company Reliable Carriers. This company is known as one of the best in the field of vehicle transport, which makes an incident of such severity particularly surprising. Some unconfirmed reports suggest a material failure as a possible cause, but no definitive information has been provided at this stage. The Washington Post reported that emergency services responded to a “man trapped under a vehicle,” finding him “in critical condition. Despite doctors’ resuscitation efforts, he was declared dead.”
An Ongoing Investigation and an Immediate Reaction
Following the police investigation, the BMW M1 was repackaged and removed in the evening. Authorities are currently treating this event as a workplace accident. The Hagerty Foundation immediately reacted by issuing a statement: “On Wednesday afternoon, a tragic accident occurred in Washington D.C. in which a truck driver died while unloading a car. Our sincere and heartfelt condolences go out to the individual’s family. Out of respect for the deceased, we will not make any further comments at this time and have canceled the scheduled events from September 18 to 23.”
The Historical Heritage of the BMW M1 Art Car
Andy Warhol’s BMW M1 Art Car is a world-renowned piece for its striking appearance and sporting legacy. The artist painted it in less than half an hour, and it notably raced at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Its value today is astronomical, and its historical significance is considerable. It is likely that this iconic vehicle will not be displayed to the public again for some time following this terrible tragedy.